A CHAT ABOUT SOCKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1433, 5 August 1915, Page 4

A CHAT ABOUT SOCKS.

A week or two ago I packed up the socks then on hand from our Home Club, and took them up to the Red Cross headquarters, so that they might go into the cases that were being sent. I wanted also to get frank comments, or, if need be, criticisms on our work, so that our knitters would be sure their work was just right. Such a busy place as It was ! Tables were piled high with hospital shirts, sheets, towels, pneumonia jackets, and what not, waiting to be tied up in lots of ten for the packer! In another place parcels of cut garments were being done up ready tor busy women to call and take away tor the working groups all over the city. Sewing machines were whirring away upstairs, under the guidance of another band of women. Everywhere work ! work ! work ! service gladly and freely rendered for King and Country by the women who have already given or are giving, fathers, husbands, sous, brothers or lovers in the great cause. It made one's heart thrill to feel how duly the women of the Empire do staud “shoulder to shoulder" in this Home Service. At last I found my way to the Sock Room, Socks! socks! everywhere ! Yet never enough, for the cry always is, “More, more, and still more." “Here are some socks from the ‘Witness Home Club,’ said the Editor. “If they are all right, we want to know it, but if they are not quite right we want to know it even more, for our women are the kind who can follow directions, and if they can improve on what they have been doing, you can depend on them to do it. once they are told." “They certainly are a line showing," said the expert—and she was an expert indeed, for she had judged socks at country fairs times without number. “Yes! They are fine. Yet there are ways in which they could be improved. See how harsh tills pair feds ! There’s a lot of dressing in that wool, and they've not been washed yet. If a man put those on and got his feet blistered on a long inarch, he might easily gel poisoned feet and be laid up for a long lime." “Do you mean that all socks should be washed before sending in ? ’ said the Editor. “I do, indeed,” said the expert, “My helper here has to go over all the socks that come in from city or country, pick out those that have evidently not been washed, and see that they are washed before shipping. We keep a clothes line constantly in use drying them. So you see what a help it would be for us if we could be sure that the ‘Witness’ socks had always been washed and made as soft as they could be made before they left the knitters’ hands. Here’s a pair of socks, now, that are beautifully knit, as indeed the last pair were, but they will never be soft and elastic. They have been knit with too small needles, and each wash makes them more like thick, stout cloth, with very little ‘give’ to them, It’s far better to err on the side of having needles too large for the wool rather than too small. For ordinary yarn, generally used for socks, I think No. 10 or No. it needles are really a safer size to use than No, 12 or No, 13. “Here again is something that could he easily remedied. This heel with the ridge right across the bottom is not a good style for soldiers. For long, heavy marching, the proper heel is gusset of V heel, any style, indeed, which leaves no distinct seam across the bottom." “This toe is not all that one could desire. It is too pointed. The narrowing has been begun a little too soon, and, see ! there is a distinct knot at the end. The square toe is, I think, always more satisfactory, and it’s worth all the extra care to see that the toe is made as smooth as possible. Foot comfort for the soldier makes a tremendous • difference in his efficiency.”

Here’s a fine pair, well kuit and well shaped. It's a mistake, though, to fasten the toes of the socks together. We always shake a little boracic acid into each before shipping, and it greatly lessens our work if the socks are fastened at the top only, the two insides beiug fastened with wool or with a strong, safety pin, so that we can shake the powder in without unfastening the pair. “But all these points are mere trifles, and with knitters such as your club evidently are, you have only to mention them, I feel sure, to have them remembered," I came away with the old saying ringing through my mind, “trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifles." I felt I had learned much from this interesting visit about the kind of socks that are wanted, and it seemed that I could sura up the various points pretty much as follows ; r. See that every pair of socks is thoroughly washed before sending, or wash the wool before knitting, if preferred. Grey or natural wool is best. No bright colours, 2. Use needles too coarse, rather than too line. No. 10 or n suits au average knitter when working wit b ordinary yaru. 3. Don’t fasten the pah at the toe, but at the top of the leg, pinuing the two insides with strong safety pin, and leaving the outsides Iree. 4. See that there is no ridge under the heel. 5. See that the toe is not narrowed too gradually and to a sharp point. 6. Avoid knots or hard places, especially on the foot. 7. Socks will always vary, but good average is 12 inches finished length for the leg and to 11 for the foot. Seventy two stitches makes a good average size. 8. Keep on knitting. No matter what else you are doing, keep a sock on the needles for the odd minutes. Get your friends at it too, for we simply can’t have too many.